Ordoliberalism is known as one of the key traditions of European neoliberalism and the official economic ideology of post-WWII Germany. Following the German experience of the interwar period, ordoliberal theory is best known for its emphasis on strong state and rule-based coordination for free market economy. This project takes a novel approach to European neoliberalism by reinterpreting the theoretical and historical foundations of the ordoliberal movement. It challenges conventional interpretations that frame ordoliberalism as a reaction to historical events, political ideologies, or competing economic theories. The project examines ordoliberalism as a philosophically motivated theory that relied on a radical reinterpretation of the basic principles of liberalism. By doing so, it provides new analytical tools for the critical assessment of the European economic policies and their implications for democracy, sovereignty, and the future of liberalism in today's Europe.

2021

2026